Yes, psoriasis is an auto-immune condition and is quite strongly linked with other auto-immune diseases like Crohn's and Rheumatoid Arthritis. My dad has terrible psoriasis and his sister (my aunty) has Crohn's too so there seems to be a genetic link. I don't think it's as black and white as your doctor said but theres definitely a connection.

__________________~ Nicci

"Never feel guilty for being sick and try to stop comparing yourself and your life to others. You're doing the best you can under the circumstances you have and you're doing great."

Just to add to my post: Here's a study that showed treatment of Crohn's often greatly improved the symptoms of psoriasis which indicates a genetic and pathologic relationship between to two :http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12789169
I like including sources (:

Funny that some of the treatments are the same (I have psoraisis; my daughter has Crohns) but some may differ; one doc suggested Remicade for my psoraisis and dd's peds GI tells me Remi can actually WORSEN psoraisis.
All autoimmune are related from what I understand, including thyroid disease, juvenile diabetes, psoraisis, crohns, graves disease.....
My grandfather also has psor, and my brothers daughter has graves disease.

I just find it strange that I've had Crohns for 25+ years and it's only recently that the doc has mentioned the link with psoriasis - when he's my mum's doc too and he knows her history! Or do I have just have a really useless doc?!

I've had psoriasis since age 12, was diagnosed with crohns at age 20, am now 35. I definitely feel there is a connection with me. Both diseases seem to flair at the same time. I've only had two regiments of prednisone and both times my psoriasis cleared uP almost immediately. With that said, I'd never take pred just for psoriasis. Azathioprine seems to help as well but not nearly as much as pred.

I just find it strange that I've had Crohns for 25+ years and it's only recently that the doc has mentioned the link with psoriasis - when he's my mum's doc too and he knows her history! Or do I have just have a really useless doc?!

Well I don't know about the UK, but I know in the U.S. at least it would be illegal for a doctor to mention one patient's history to another, even if they're family and they know you already know it. Had you mentioned your mother's psoriasis to him?

Not that long ago my doc noticed my mum has Psoriasis and said that's why I've got Crohns?! He says it's all to do with the immune system

About 15 years ago when I went to my UK doctor about a little psoriasis problem he said "It's not surprising that you have psoriasis and Chrohn's - after all the skin inside and out is all connected!".

I have had psoriasis for 51 years and just developed Crohn's. Yay. I have a great GI guy and he agrees there is a link. I've just stopped Enbrel to start Humira since it works on both diseases. I know Humira can make the psoriasis worse but am hoping that since Enbrel is so similar that I have no adverse reactions. I'll keep you posted

I think I have psoriasis on my scalp although I have never said anything to the doctor before. I think I might when I next go, because it has got worse recently and it is really annoying. Should I say something to my GP or GI?

__________________~Holly~
Diagnosed with CD March 08 at 17
Currently on:
Infliximab

I think I have psoriasis on my scalp although I have never said anything to the doctor before. I think I might when I next go, because it has got worse recently and it is really annoying. Should I say something to my GP or GI?

I think I do too. I had really bad inflammation that went away after I started Humira (for the Crohn's). Now that I'm off the Humira post surgery it has been steadily worsening. Makes me wonder about the inflammation in other parts of my body...

Its great to read all this- I am struggling with inflammation all over right now- and wicked psoriasis flare. I have had allergic reaction to most treatments to the UC and other inflammatory problems and all the specialists have told me that I am at the point of symptom management only. There is one more drug I can try (methotrexate) but because I have such extreme reactions to everything else we are trying light therapy and another course of pred. On a bad day I feel like a smelly (ostomy) swollen, ugly (psoriasis on my face and scalp) freak. Most days aren't that bad though. And its good to know I'm not the only one.

i have psoriasis got it when i was 12 and im almost 24 i have tried everything for it but now ive been on cyclospoine for a year now it deff has helped and i ended up in the hospital for a week with the drs not knowing what was going on with me, i have had watery diarrhea for over a month bad bad stomach pains nausea no blood in stool but id eat anything and it be out of me with in minutes..many stool samples many blood work (blood work came back saying i was a little anemic) they did an ultrasound came back good they did a colonoscopy and a scope in my mouth and the GP said that there was some redness that they seen with the colonoscopy and did some biospy..he also said that there were some lesions in my tummy.. the GI dr was to busy to see me before they sent me home so i have an appointment with him tomorrow (oct 31, 2012)... the GP dr said it could be early stages of crohns and he also said that the biopsy couldnt rule out colitis?? could it be crohns? HELP! but i guess ill know more tomorrow